• Harry's pov •

"Moony, pads are you guys ready!" I hollered through Remus and Sirius' dorm, "yes we are ready Harry, just have to wait for Hermione." I nodded sitting down on the couch. A couple moments later Draco and Hermione came through the door. "Hello Harry." Hermione said cheerfully, "hey Mione. Thanks again for offering to watch Teddy."

"No problem Harry! I love spending time with Teddy." I smiled kissing her forehead. "MOONY! HERMIONE IS HERE!" I screamed before turning to Draco, I immediately hugged him. "I'm so nervous." I admitted quietly. He hugged me tight and asked 'why' in my ear. "Whenever Moony pads and Sev get into a room together the only things happening are usually not good."

Draco chuckled and ruffled my hair, "I think Sev is finally ready to let all of that go." I nodded, letting go finally, lacing our fingers together instead. Sirius walked out and smirked but didn't say much, he could sense my nerves. "Draco, always a pleasure, where is your mother?" Draco smiled, "she's already at Snapes, she was teaching Liv how to c-crochet? I believe is what it's called. Muggle crafts I believe."

"I need to teach you more muggle things." Draco visibly cringed at my comment and I chuckled, "they're really not that bad." Draco nodded, "I know love, I'm just not used to it." I nodded in understanding, Draco still had a lot to learn and growing to do but I was very proud of the progress he's made this year. I was just proud of him in general, he really is amazing in every way.

I blushed at myself, shaking my head. I really needed to stop thinking so fondly of Draco. We were just friends after all. Remus finally came out of the room, and noticed me and Draco's still intertwined hands. He winked at me and I rolled my eyes, both him and Sirius have been pushing towards the idea of me and Draco getting together but I wasn't so sure.

I don't think Draco could ever have feelings for me. I wasn't even sure that I had feelings for him, I thought about him a lot.. I liked looking at him. I also quite loved being around him. I like being around a lot of people, but it's always different with Draco. He understands me in a way no one else seems to. I just wasn't sure how I felt, so I couldn't worry too much about how he felt. Everything felt so pressured from everyone.. I didn't like dealing with the constant pushes from everyone.

Draco didn't like it either, and he made everyone of the eighth years very aware of that last night. Poor Blaise had said one two many times that we should get together, and Draco lost it on all of them. I have to admit he's rather attractive when he's angry.

"Harry, darling, come to." I snapped out of my train of thought, blushing as I realized everyone was looking at me. "What? Oh sorry, I must have zoned out." Draco leaned to whisper in my ear, "you doing alright love?" I nodded, looking up at him. "Yes I'm sorry I just got lost in thought." He kissed the top of my head, "not a problem, just wanted to make sure you were alright. Are you ready?"

I walked away from Draco, picking Teddy up and giving him a quick kiss on the head. "You be good for Mione now, remember what I taught you handsome. Be like Moony not Padfoot." Sirius gasped over-dramatically clutching his chest, "he'd turn out just fine acting like me thank you very much! Moony, can you believe him?!"

"I believe he's very wise, that's my boy Harry. Alright everyone out the door, I don't wish to be late." We all nodded, not daring to argue with Remmie. Especially when it came to being late. I grabbed Draco's hand again, shouting a goodbye to Mione.

Here goes nothing.

•

We just arrived at Snapes, and Liv ran out the door and basically tackled me to give me a hug. "Harry you're here!" I chuckled ruffing her hair, "I told you I'd be here sweetheart." She hugged Draco, "why are you guys holding hands?" She asked curiously and I blushed, "because we're friends little lizard."

She scrunched up her nose, "I don't hold my friends hands." Draco chuckled, "well you're only fourteen so of course not." She stuck her tongue out at him and started pulling us inside. "Liv this is Remus and Sirius, my dads." Remus smiled at me brightly, I didn't always introduce them as my dads but that's how I really felt about them. Since my mum and dad couldn't be here, they were and I knew dad wouldn't want it any other way.

"Dad! The guests have arrived." She had her chest puffed out and tried to deepen her voice. I chuckled at her attempt to match Snapes vibe. "You do a good Snape impression." I said softly with a wink, she giggled. A few moments later Narcissa and Sev walked out. "Remus, Sirius.. it's nice to.. see you both." Sirius scrunched up his nose, but smiled. "Always a pleasure sni- Severus." I smiled at his correction. Maybe this wouldn't be terrible.

"I.. want to uhm. Apologize? To you both. For.. everything." Remus shook his head, "if anything we're sorry. We're adults now, and I think we should just put it all behind us." Snape nodded, his nose still in the air. "I should... have realize we were adults much sooner." He choked out. I could tell being kind was hard for him. Not because he was incapable, but because he wasn't so used to it. Liv changed him a lot, I think the war did too. He looked as though a weight had been taken off his shoulders.

"So.. you two..?" Snape drawled, looking between me and Draco. We kind of moved away from each other, stumbling over our words, "well no sir-" Draco cut me off, "it's not what it see-" snape cut him off. "Alright.. whatever you two.. Neanderthals say." We chuckled nervously, and Narcissa had a pointed look at Draco.

"Let's eat shall we." She said happily glancing between the lot of us.

•

Dinner actually went smoothly, we were just getting ready to leave when Liv pulled me to the side. "Can I ask you a question?" I nodded crouching down, "what's up darling?" I asked her softly smiling at her, "do you like Draco?" I choked on air a bit, blushing. "Why do you ask that?" She clicked her tongue. "Ignoring my question and responding with a question, nice diversion from telling me the real answer." She winked and skipped away.

"Well alright then." I said quietly to myself going back over to Draco. "What was that about?" He asked slowly and I just shrugged, "nothing you need to worry your pretty little head over. She should've been sorted into ravenclaw," He blushed, grabbing my hand. "Are you ready to leave?" I nodded, "thank you very much for having us Sev, it was a lovely evening." Snape actually chuckled, "yes Potter, never thought I'd have an enjoyable evening.. with you lot." We all chuckled, and headed out the door. I gave Narcissa a quick hug. "Always a pleasure Cissy."

She patted the top of my head, "same to you, my dear." I smiled and jogged over to Remus and Sirius, pulling Draco with me. We apparated somewhere outside of hogwarts and made our way to the castle. I hugged Remus and Sirius. "I love you guys, I'll see you tomorrow." Remus ruffled my hair, "we love you too, have a good evening you guys."

•

Me and Draco headed to our dorm immediately. "That was actually an enjoyable evening." I said with a sigh of relief. Draco hugged me tightly. I was a bit taken back, but quickly recovered from the shock and hugged him back tightly. He eventually pulled away with a soft kiss pressed to my forehead. "What was that for?" I asked softly. "Just for being you, tonight really opened my eyes. So much has changed and I still hold onto this constant fear that you're going to realize who I really am and leave."

I shook my head sternly, sitting down on my bed and pulling him into my lap. Resting my head on his shoulder I spoke softly into his ear. "I know who you are. You're Draco. You're sassy, proper, kind, gentle, but passionate. You're one of the best people I've ever met. That kid I met at eleven isn't who you are, and I've opened my eyes to that. I admit I thought you had ulterior motive at first when you invited us to meet with you and your friends, now I'm so happy that I took the chance. You're easily my favorite person to be around, everything is easy with you. I'm not going anywhere Draco, ever. Unless you want me to leave I'm here."

He shook his head, sniffling, "I don't ever want you to leave. You're my best friend at this point in life, I know for sure I always want you here." I smiled, kissing his head softly. "I'll be here then, always." He turned around, brushing the hair off my forehead, looking me directly in my eyes. I'm not quite sure how it happened, or when, but I knew in that moment I had fallen for Draco Malfoy.

Looking into his eyes right now, it all hit me at once. I didn't want to move, as though if I did I'd break the moment and it would disappear. I still didn't plan on saying anything, but I knew how I felt right now in this moment. Even if Draco didn't know it, he just took my heart and made it his own.

•

After that moment, me and Draco decided to sleep in the same bed. Something that had become a habit to help our nightmares. I had him held tightly into my side, scared to let go. He was tracing circles on my chest, humming softly. "What's on your mind?" I asked gently. "You." Came his simple reply. I looked down at him, and he was already looking up at me. "What about me?" I said in a teasing tone.

"Just how happy I am that you're in my life. You're genuinely amazing." I smiled, "you're amazing too love." He sighed, looking back down. "What is it?" I asked nudging him once more. He shrugged, "it's nothing.." I wasn't sure how far was too far, "are you sure darling? Your vibe has changed immensely." He looked up at me, and before I knew what was happening he leaned up softly pressing a kiss to my lips. My hands immediately reached up to hold his face, melting into the kiss.

We stayed like that for what felt like forever, smiling softly into gentle kisses. When we did finally pull apart, we rested our foreheads together gently. Catching our breath, I looked into his eyes. "I wanted to do that earlier." He said quietly and I smiled, "I've wanted to do that for awhile." I admitted sheepishly, chuckling softly. "Does that mean.. do you feel the same way..?" He asked quietly, and the fear in his voice broke my heart. "I do, but I think we should take this slowly."

He nodded, "of course, but you have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that." I chuckled, pulling him over so he was sitting between my legs with my arms wrapped around his waist. "I wasn't sure how I felt for awhile, everyone pushing didn't help because I felt pressured to either feel a certain way or not to. You make me feel so safe though, as I said I don't want to rush this. What we have right now is special and I don't want it to break, it's fragile." He nodded, taking a minute.

"We can move as slowly as you wish, I never thought you'd feel the same way.." he still had that fear laced in his voice. I slowly moved again, gently moving to where we were facing each other. I closed the gap between us once more, this kiss much more passionate, and full of emotion. "You shouldn't doubt yourself so much Draco, you're capable of love, and of being loved. You're absolutely amazing, stunning, and perfect in my eyes." He hid his face in my neck, "you have no idea what you do to me. I feel like a hufflepuff when you're around. Let's sleep on this okay?"

I chuckled, moving again so he could cuddle back up into my side. I kissed his forehead gently, "goodnight my love." He pressed a kiss to my jaw. "Goodnight darling."

-

A/N hope you enjoyed loves.

Much love,

-H🫶🏼